Design Phase Commissioning Activities
During design the CxA reviews documents for clarity, completeness, and constructability from a commissioning perspective, verifying that the design responds to the OPR. Key activities: design review at schematic and design-development stages, confirming the BOD is complete and traceable to the OPR, checking that systems are accessible and maintainable, and reviewing specifications for Cx requirements, contractor responsibilities, and testing provisions.
Know the BOD's role: it records design assumptions, calculations, and the rationale for system selection. A frequent exam trap is confusing OPR (owner's needs) with BOD (designer's solution). Another trap: assuming the CxA approves or stamps design changes. The CxA issues review comments and tracks them; the designer of record resolves and seals the design. Also watch for questions implying the CxA should design the fix; the CxA identifies concerns and verifies resolution.
Design review should also catch missing provisions: no requirement for submittals to be reviewed by the CxA, no FPT scope in specifications, no training or systems-manual requirement, and no spare-parts or warranty language. Catching these in design is far cheaper than in construction.
Rule of thumb: read specifications for who does what, when, and with what evidence. Worked example: the CxA finds the spec requires contractor testing but never requires CxA-witnessed FPT or documentation of results. The CxA comments to add FPT scope, witness requirements, and deliverable formats, and tracks the comment until the designer incorporates it, closing the loop before bid.